Russian athlete won't challenge decision to strip her of Olympic gold

Russian track and field athlete Yulia Chermoshanskaya on Thursday said she will not challenge the decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to strip her of her gold medal from the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

The IOC announced on August 17 that Russia's national track and field team was stripped of the 2008 Olympic Games gold medal in the 4x100 metre relay race due to a positive doping test of runner Chermoshanskaya, reports Tass.

The decision, which took effect immediately, was made as a result of double-checking 2008 Olympic Games doping tests. Chermoshanskaya's sample tested positive for two banned substances -- stanozolol and turinabol.

The athlete planned to challenge the decision in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne but later she changed her mind.

"No, I will get nothing from this. Most likely, everything will remain as it is," Chermoshanskaya said on Thursday.

The three other athletes who participated in the relay race were Yevgeniya Polyakova, Aleksandra Fedoriva and Yulia Gushchina.

Belgium were second, Nigeria third, and Brazil fourth.

Russia were third in the medal standings at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, winning 23 golds (considering the win in the women's 4x100m relay), 21 silvers and 29 bronzes.

--IANS

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